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Re: Using "=" vs ":="

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg70706] Re: Using "=" vs ":="
• From: "dimitris" <dimmechan at yahoo.com>
• Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 05:45:08 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <ehf1ks$5ds$1@smc.vnet.net>

Copy and Paste the following command in a Mathematica Notebook
and then press Shift+Enter to execute it

FrontEndExecute[FrontEnd`HelpBrowserLookup["MainBook", "2.5.8"]]

Regards
Dimitris


misha wrote:
> I'm going through Mathematic by Example, 2nd ed., (Abell and Braselton),
> and have come across something that puzzles me.
>
> Chapter 2, Section 2, Example 8
> Define f(x,y)=1-sin(x^2+y^2)
>
> So I first try,
> In[1]:= f[x_, y_]:=1-Sin(x^2+y^2)
> No problem so far...
> Then,
> In[2]:= f[x,y]
> Out[2]:=1-Sin(x^2+y^2)
> Still no problem...
> Then,
> In[3]:=f[1,2]
> Out[3]:=1-5 Sin
>
> Huh?
>
> I noticed that rather than using ":=" to "simply define" this function,
> as opposed to (just) "=" to "define and compute" this function, I get
> different subsequent behavior.  Specifically, doing the above with just
> "=", works fine.
> In[1]:= f[x_, y_]=1-Sin(x^2+y^2)
> ....
> In[3]:=f[1,2]
> Out[3]:=1-Sin[5]
>
> My question is, Why?  What's the difference between ":=" and "=" for
> defining functions?
> 
> Thanks!
> Misha